Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE Review & Specifications

The Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE by THERMALRIGHT is a Air CPU cooler designed for compatibility with LGA 1700, LGA 1151, LGA 1155, LGA 1156, LGA 1200, LGA 1851, AM4, AM5 sockets.

This air cooler features a heatsink with a CPU contact base made of Copper, which is typically nickel-plated to prevent oxidation and ensure long-term durability while maintaining the superior thermal conductivity of the underlying copper. While some coolers use a solid nickel-plated copper base for maximum surface area and durability, others, usally lower to midrange coolers, utilize direct-touch heatpipes to transfer heat immediately from the CPU into the cooling system. It includes 2 fan(s), each sized at 120 mm. These fan(s) can reach up to 1550.0 RPM and operate at a noise level of 25.6 dBA, delivering a combined airflow of 66.17 CFM. The total height of the cooler is 155 mm . Please ensure your PC case supports this cooler’s height. You can verify compatibility using our PC Builder, which filters compatible cases based on CPU cooler dimensions. This cooler does not include RGB lighting, focusing instead on performance, reliability, and low acoustic output. The cooler is backed by a 5-year warranty, providing long-term reliability and manufacturer support.

Performance

Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE is an ultra high-end performance air CPU cooler designed for CPUs with a TDP exceeding 200 W, achieving an outstanding relative cooling performance score of 81.00%. It is ideal for high-end gaming PCs and is especially recommended for professional workstations due to its superior reliability. As an air cooler, it has a simpler and more robust design compared to liquid coolers, which include additional components such as pumps and tubing that introduce more points of failure and potential leakage. Air coolers require minimal maintenance and typically have only one moving part — the fan. High-end models like this also offer significant passive thermal mass, which helps absorb heat even in the event of fan failure, providing a safety margin against hardware damage.

Cost-Effectiveness

In terms of performance per dollar, the Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE offers exceptional value for an air cooler, achieving 113.5% efficiency relative to the best-performing CPU cooler in the performance-per-price category. It stands out as an excellent choice for budget-conscious users seeking strong thermal performance.